Panama

Panama is a rich country by Latin American standards, and as such is undergoing an epidemiological transition from a high burden of communicable, infectious diseases to one where non-communicable diseases are more prevalent. The quality of healthcare is relatively high, although certain impoverished populations lack access.

In 2006, the country was shocked by the death of 40 people who consumed contaminated drugs produce by a government-owned laboratory. The lab was subsequently shut down.

Rapid economic growth, increasing pharmaceutical imports, a lack of pharmaceutical price regulation, the rising retail pharmacy sector and the consolidation of the public sector have made Panama the sixth largest Central American pharmaceutical market.

Tariffs on pharmaceuticals have been abolished.